"That's it. Why, Steve, it's the queerest thing. I'm so excited I can't think. If we can make a bargain with them, they'll be glad enough to go with us to the nearest trading post. We can buy all we want when we get there. You've helped me out of my scrape."
"Seems to me it was easy enough to think of that."
It may have been, but Murray felt very grateful to Steve.
The latter now put down his magazine, and went to the door in his turn, for he too had a large amount of thinking to do.
"Murray, they are taking down the lodges again."
"Going forward to-night, eh? I'm glad of that. I must spur old Many Bears up to it. Don't want him to lose a day on the road."
"Nor I, either. They'll move slowly enough anyhow."
"Oh, they'll find a good place to leave the village, while the chiefs and warriors go on to be present at the treaty talk."
"Suppose there isn't any?"
"There's pretty sure to be something of the kind at this season of the year. Anyhow, we will get them to a place where we can buy ponies and blankets, and we will have Rita with us."